• Twitter feed out of service :(
  • Grillin On The Bay - March 27, 2010

5 Businesses Sheepshead Bay Needs


by Ned Berke on Sep 4th, 2009

There is a wide variety of businesses in Sheepshead Bay. We’ve got great restaurants, boutique clothing and shoe stores, pharmacies, cell phone stores, salons, knick-knackeries, cafes and so forth. But we’re lacking a few establishments that will add flavor to Sheepshead Bay while keeping many from leaving the ‘hood to fulfill their wants. Here’s my top five of what businesses Sheepshead Bay needs. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section.

  1. A used book store. Sure, we’ve got a library, but it’s a pitiful one. A used book store would give us more options, especially one that sells both English- and Russian-language literature. It would also be a great cultural point for the bay, where people can meet to discuss books, have book readings, etc.
  2. An outdoor place to eat and drink on the waterfront. From Stella Maris down to the Brigham Street Park, we’ve got a nice swath of waterside property that fails to satisfy my desire to have an evening drink or a nice lunch sitting directly on the water. A few of the restaurants have enclosed areas with windows looking out onto the bay, but I’d prefer to be outdoors enjoying a salty breeze. We’ve got the property, we should maximize it, even if it means a seasonal business.
  3. A music venue. For the love of god, a music venue! Having to go to Bay Ridge, Williamsburg, or the city to satisfy my desire to hear live bands kicking out tunes is a real pity. I should be able to plan a weekend that involves seeing a band without leaving the neighborhood. This is New York City for chrissakes!
  4. An art gallery. Before starting Sheepshead Bites, I thought this neighborhood was dead in terms of art. I figured Sheepshead just didn’t raise artists, and artists sure as hell didn’t move here. Well, I’ve been proven wrong a number of time. This site has introduced me to dozens of artists born, raised, and/or living here. Photographers, graphic designers, sketch artists, sculptors… they’re here! Unfortunately, you’d never know it because there’s no place for them to connect to each other or the community. Instead they showcase their art elsewhere. But having an art gallery in Sheepshead Bay would provide a launching pad for many of these local artists, and attract others to the area. And, of course, it would bring our neighborhood together.
  5. Good Latin food. Please, no more soggy tacos made by Chinese/Mexican fusion places. I want real, authentic Latin food. Good guacamole, hearty burritos, and maybe even a juicy empanada. And dare I suggest that Sheepshead Bay – a seafood haven – ought to have a good place to buy ceviche?

Related posts

Tags: , ,

  • Print This Print This
  • Comments
  • Opinion
  • Sal
    I'm a 22 year old musician from Sheepshead Bay and I always have to travel to play gigs in different places, Bay Ridge usually...I would love for there to be an honest place around here that let real local live and touring bands play here.
  • Vlad
    This list seems like a small step in the right direction for my beloved Sheepshead Bay. Nevertheless, it is a step in the right direction and I - for one - agree with all the points. Particularly, one made by Lisanne! that "Sheepshead Bay should be more about culture".
  • Lisa
    I agree with all that you've said but what thrills me is that ANYone in Sheepshead Bay is sitting around thinking about ceviche. I would SO love some good ceviche....
  • That's different. Those are basically dress rehearsals open to critics and investors and a few extra people to get word of mouth moving. It also gives the actors a chance to refine their act in front of a living and breathing audience.
  • Like Broadway plays that have a pre-opening run. Nothing is sacred anymore.
  • Grand Opening? Its been open all summer.

    This practice of having a "Soft Opening" that lasts longer then a week is retarded, just simply retarded.
  • local broker
    Ned, are you going to the grand opening of cherry hill tomorrow? that story was never followed up on.
  • Hungry: Great addition! I'm surprised I forgot that one. Clemente's had been a personal favorite for breakfast, but now that they're closed I'm omelet-less. Oh where oh where have my waffles gone?!
  • Hungry for Poached Eggs
    We need a good breakfast/brunch spot. I love Bagel Boy but if I want goog sit down breakfast the diner taste of El Greco is the best we can offer. Bayridge and Park Slope has a few good spots, even the Farm on Cortelyou is pretty good, but nothing within walking distance.
  • We'd have enough packing here if the developers had provided adequate on premises parking. I fail to see why the city needs to subsidize them by building facilities for long term use. Wouldn't happen anyway.

    There has been much interest in recent years in waterfront use enhancement. Promoting Sheepshead Bay as a fishing port doesn't need to be an expensive undertaking. Sadly though the aesthetics have been killed by overbuilding on the north side of Emmons.
  • local broker
    i dont see many businesses closing or struggling if they have a good product to sell. more is always better you say meanwhile in the summer it takes 10 minutes to drive 2 blocks down emmons on a weekend this place is packed. we have hotels they should be for tourist or visiting families but are used mostly for prostitution and have been for years. tourism is not a bad thing but there has to be a limit. im all for people making the most they can. a parking garage would be good for the people that live here not to bait more traffic for the area. when you go to places mentioned before most people dont live right in the middle of the commercial area they also travel either by foot or car whatever. her we live on the main strips even the side streets have stores and are busy so its right on top of us. one of the main things i loved about this area brighton sheepshead is that it was away from the hustle of the city not anymore.
  • tim
    Local Broker, you are right.
    Why improve the quality of life for the residents who live between the Bay and parkway. Parking has always been a problem, why change it now. Limited parking should help keep the real estate prices down. Who cares if a residents has to park blocks away. Remember this is the Bay.
    Again you are right. Why support the fishing fleet, restaurants and local businesses by providing additional parking for their customers. Why try to attract more tourist to Sheepshead Bay. With luck, Coney Island/ Brighton Beach will be improved and the tourist can just stay on the train two more stops.
    Yes... Sheepshead Bay should always stay the way it is... If those millions you write about are looking for something like Florida, Maine, Newport let them go somewhere else. Maybe, just in case there are those who have heard about Sheepshead Bay (Like the New York Times) and are thinking about visiting here... Let them walk...
    "Businesses Sheepshead Bay Needs" has some very good and interesting comments. They just have to remember, don't encourage tourist.
  • local broker
    people need to stop with this thinking that sheepshead bay could be a fishing village or something. this isnt florida this isnt maine this nyc those cities have hundreds of thousands of people living there we have millions here. its never going to be Newport, RI. the only parking we need is for people that live here not more parking for tourism.
  • tim
    Parking
    Just walk along Emmons Ave or Sheepshead Bay Road anytime of the day or night and you will see the severe need for parking. We who live and work here know this...
    The recent change to angled parking near the west end of Emmons Ave. helped, but still quickly fills up. People wanting to visit Sheepshead Bay to eat, shop or walk along the Bay have to think about parking. How many people decide not to visit Sheepshead Bay because of the lack of parking?
    Sheepshead Bay is growing but needs immediate help and no more speeches from our government officials. For years our elected representatives have agreed more support is need for the Sheepshead Bay community. In one speech a long time ago it was called "The Forgotten Marina/Waterfront"... And still is.
    I would like to suggest our leaders take a look at Ogunguit, Maine or Boca Raton, Florida and how they corrected their parking problem. Both city's have a trolley bus service running along the main street. They build parking at the ends of the main streets.
    What about the west end of Emmons Ave. on the available land along side the belt parkway and the entrance to the belt? Build a parking garage that would blend in with Sheepshead Bay, Plum Beach, the new park and the water...
    Build more parking, and they will come...
  • katerina
    Hey, local broker. I'm writing about real state in this area... how can I get in touch with you.
    here is my email: kv2195@columbia.edu
  • Bill W
    I guess I’m out of the loop. Book stores, Mexican restaurants, art galleries etc. I guess if you want SHB to become another Brooklyn Heights or some other "trendy" urban local it would also make sense to fill in the bay for parking, or even more boutiques, since nobody mentioned an actual use of the unique physical geography – i.e. a bay. Maybe the bay is only good to collect the garbage flowing off the streets. Too bad someone, maybe artists, haven’t demonstrated some ways to use the bay. 3 struggling boat clubs and a shrinking fishing fleet is what is left of SHB “maritime” heritage.
  • Ray Johnson
    This post could very well have been called the 1,001 Businesses Sheepshead Bay Needs.

    So many great ideas, here...but, not to sure about the Sheepshead Bay Atlantic City, though.
  • local broker
    from what i understand all they have to do is sign the papers the deal is done otherwise.
  • Is Sitt's departure official yet? I've heard this is going to happen but it looked that way before and then they went back to negotiating again.
  • - coffee shop
    - yeah, I agree, authentic food!!!!!!!!!!!! enough of this FUSION fluff ---- go to soho for that ....
    - farmer's market and seafood market
    - gift shops- seashells, paintings, beach gear
blog comments powered by Disqus